UPSC Prelims 2017 Previous Year Questions with Answers and Explanations

100 questions from the UPSC Prelims 2017 General Studies Paper I, each with the correct answer, a full explanation, why every option is right or wrong, and named sources.

Q1 · Indian Polity: With reference to the Parliament of India, consider the following statements : 1. A private member's bill is a bill presented by a Member…
Q2 · Ancient History: With reference to the difference between the culture of Rigvedic Aryans and Indus Valley people, which of the following statements is/are…
Q3 · Indian Economy: 'Recognition of Prior Learning Scheme' is sometimes mentioned in the news with reference to
Q4 · Environment & Ecology: From the ecological point of view, which one of the following assumes importance in being a good link between the Eastern Ghats and the…
Q5 · Indian Polity: One of the implications of equality in society is the absence of
Q6 · Environment & Ecology: Consider the following statements in respect of Trade Related Analysis of Fauna and Flora in Commerce (TRAFFIC) : 1. TRAFFIC is a bureau…
Q7 · Indian Polity: Which principle among the following was added to the Directive Principles of State Policy by the 42nd Amendment to the Constitution?
Q8 · Ancient History: Which one of the following statements is correct?
Q9 · Indian Economy: Of the following, which gives 'Global Gender Gap Index' ranking to the countries of the world?
Q10 · Environment & Ecology: Which of the following statements is/are correct regarding Smart India Hackathon 2017? 1. It is a centrally sponsored scheme for…
Q11 · Indian Economy: Which of the following statements is/are correct regarding the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC)? 1. It decides the RBI's benchmark interest…
Q12 · Environment & Ecology: With reference to Manipuri Sankirtana, consider the following statements: 1. It is a song and dance performance. 2. Cymbals are the only…
Q13 · Indian Polity: Who among the following was/were associated with the introduction of Ryotwari Settlement in India during the British rule ? 1. Lord…
Q14 · Indian Polity: In the context of solving pollution problems, what is/are the advantage/advantages of bioremediation technique? 1. It is a technique for…
Q15 · Indian Economy: The Trade Disputes Act of 1929 provided for
Q16 · Indian Polity: Local self - government can be best explained as an exercise in
Q17 · Indian Economy: With reference to the Constitution of India, the Directive Principles of State Policy constitute limitations upon 1. legislative function.…
Q18 · Art & Culture: The term 'Digital Single Market Strategy' seen in the news refers to
Q19 · Modern History: At one of the places in India, if you stand on the seashore and watch the sea, you will find that the sea water recedes from the shore…
Q20 · Indian Economy: With reference to the ‘Prohibition of Benami Property Transactions Act, 1988 (PBPT Act)’, consider the following statements : 1. A…
Q21 · Environment & Ecology: Due to some reasons, if there is a huge fall in the population of species of butterflies, what could be its likely…
Q22 · Science & Technology: It is possible to produce algae - based biofuels, but what is/are the likely limitation(s) of developing countries in promoting this…
Q23 · Current Affairs: Which of the following are the objectives of ‘National Nutrition Mission’? 1. To create awareness relating to malnutrition among pregnant…
Q24 · Modern History: Consider the following statements: 1. The Factories Act, 1881 was passed with a view to fix the wages of industrial workers and to allow…
Q25 · Environment & Ecology: In the context of mitigating the impending global warming due to anthropogenic emissions of carbon dioxide, which of the following can be…
Q26 · Modern History: The object of the Butler Committee of 1927 was to
Q27 · Indian Economy: The term ‘Domestic Content Requirement’ is sometimes seen in the news with reference to
Q28 · Science & Technology: Consider the following statements: 1. The Nuclear Security Summits are periodically held under the aegis of the United Nations. 2. The…
Q29 · Indian Economy: Who among the following can join the National Pension System (NPS)?
Q30 · Geography: With reference to river Teesta, consider the following statements: 1. The source of river Teesta is the same as that of Brahmaputra but it…
Q31 · Science & Technology: Consider the following statements: 1. In tropical regions, Zika virus disease is transmitted by the same mosquito that transmits dengue.…
Q32 · Indian Economy: Consider the following statements: 1. The Standard Mark of Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) is mandatory for automotive tyres and tubes.…
Q33 · Indian Economy: What is/are the advantage/advantages of implementing the 'National Agriculture Market' scheme? 1. It is a pan - India electronic trading…
Q34 · Indian Economy: With reference to the 'National Intellectual Property Rights Policy', consider the following statements: 1. It reiterates India's…
Q35 · Environment & Ecology: According to the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, which of the following animals cannot be hunted by any person except under some…
Q36 · Indian Polity: Which of the following statements is/are true of the Fundamental Duties of an Indian citizen? 1. A legislative process has been provided…
Q37 · Modern History: Consider the following pairs: 1. Radhakanta Deb - First President of the British Indian Association 2. Gazulu Lakshminarasu Chetty -…
Q38 · Indian Polity: Which one of the following objectives is not embodied in the Preamble to the Constitution of India?
Q39 · Indian Economy: With reference to ‘Quality Council of India (QCI)’, consider the following statements: 1. QCI was set up jointly by the Government of…
Q40 · Indian Economy: What is the purpose of setting up of Small Finance Banks (SFBs) in India? 1. To supply credit to small business units 2. To supply credit…
Q41 · Indian Economy: With reference to ‘Asia Pacific Ministerial Conference on Housing and Urban Development (APMCHUD)’, consider the following statements: 1.…
Q42 · Indian Polity: Democracy’s superior virtue lies in the fact that it calls into activity
Q43 · Indian Economy: Which of the following is a most likely consequence of implementing the ‘Unified Payments Interface (UPI)’?
Q44 · Science & Technology: The terms 'Event Horizon', 'Singularity', 'String Theory' and 'Standard Model' are sometimes seen in the news in the context of
Q45 · Science & Technology: With reference to agriculture in India, how can the technique of 'genome sequencing', often seen in the news, be used in the immediate…
Q46 · Indian Polity: The main advantage of the parliamentary form of government is that
Q47 · Indian Polity: In the context of India, which one of the following is the correct relationship between Rights and Duties?
Q48 · Indian Polity: The mind of the makers of the Constitution of India is reflected in which of the following?
Q49 · Geography: If you travel by road from Kohima to Kottayam, what is the minimum number of States within India through which you can travel, including…
Q50 · Indian Polity: The Parliament of India exercises control over the functions of the Council of Ministers through 1. Adjournment motion 2. Question hour 3.…
Q51 · Medieval History: Which one of the following was a very important seaport in the Kakatiya kingdom?
Q52 · Environment & Ecology: With reference to 'Global Climate Change Alliance', which of the following statements is/are correct? 1. It is an initiative of the…
Q53 · Ancient History: With reference to the religious history of India, consider the following statements: 1. Sautrantika and Sammitiya were the sects of…
Q54 · Geography: Mediterranean Sea is a border of which of the following countries? 1. Jordan 2. Iraq 3. Lebanon 4. Syria Select the correct answer using…
Q55 · Indian Economy: With reference to 'National Investment and Infrastructure Fund', which of the following statements is/are correct? 1. It is an organ of…
Q56 · Indian Economy: The Global Infrastructure Facility is a/an
Q57 · Indian Polity: For election to the Lok Sabha, a nomination paper can be filed by
Q58 · Geography: Consider the following statements: 1. In India, the Himalayas are spread over five States only. 2. Western Ghats are spread over five…
Q59 · Environment & Ecology: Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD) is a standard criterion for
Q60 · Environment & Ecology: With reference to the role of UN - Habitat in the United Nations programme working towards a better urban future, which of the statements…
Q61 · Indian Economy: With reference to 'National Skills Qualification Framework (NSQF)', which of the statements given below is/are correct? 1. Under NSQF, a…
Q62 · Modern History: In the context of Indian history, the principle of ‘Dyarchy (diarchy)’ refers to
Q63 · Indian Economy: Consider the following in respect of ‘National Career Service’: 1. National Career Service is an initiative of the Department of Personnel…
Q64 · Indian Economy: Which of the following statements best describes the term ‘Scheme for Sustainable Structuring of Stressed Assets (S4A)’, recently seen in…
Q65 · Environment & Ecology: Consider the following statements: 1. Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC) to Reduce Short Lived Climate Pollutants is a unique…
Q66 · Geography: With reference to ‘Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD)’, sometimes mentioned in the news while forecasting Indian monsoon, which of the following…
Q67 · Environment & Ecology: If you want to see gharials in their natural habitat, which one of the following is the best place to visit?
Q68 · Current Affairs: Consider the following in respect of Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS): 1. Inaugural IONS was held in India in 2015 under the…
Q69 · Art & Culture: The painting of Bodhisattva Padmapani is one of the most famous and oft - illustrated paintings at
Q70 · Art & Culture: Consider the following pairs: Traditions - Communities 1. Chaliha Sahib Festival - Sindhis 2. Nanda Raj Jaat Yatra - Gonds 3. Wari -…
Q71 · Environment & Ecology: Which of the following practices can help in water conservation in agriculture? 1. Reduced or zero tillage of the land 2. Applying gypsum…
Q72 · Indian Economy: Consider the following statements: The nation - wide ‘Soil Health Card Scheme’ aims at 1. Expanding the cultivable area under irrigation.…
Q73 · Science & Technology: Consider the following pairs: Commonly used / consumed materials - Unwanted or controversial chemicals likely to be found in them 1.…
Q74 · Science & Technology: Organic Light Emitting Diodes (OLEDs) are used to create digital display in many devices. What are the advantages of OLED displays over…
Q75 · Art & Culture: Which of the following is/are famous for Sun temples? 1. Arasavalli 2. Amarkantak 3. Omkareshwar Select the correct answer using the code…
Q76 · Indian Polity: Consider the following statements: 1. In the election for Lok Sabha or State Assembly, the winning candidate must get at least 50 percent…
Q77 · Indian Economy: Which of the following has/have occurred in India after its liberalization of economic policies in 1991? 1. Share of agriculture in GDP…
Q78 · Science & Technology: What is the application of Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer Technology?
Q79 · Indian Economy: Consider the following statements: 1. The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) helps in promoting financial inclusion in the…
Q80 · Environment & Ecology: The term 'M - STrIPES' is sometimes seen in the news in the context of
Q81 · Indian Economy: What is/are the most likely advantages of implementing 'Goods and Services Tax (GST)'? 1. It will replace multiple taxes collected by…
Q82 · Current Affairs: 'Broad - based Trade and Investment Agreement (BTIA)' is sometimes seen in the news in the context of negotiations held between India and
Q83 · Indian Economy: Consider the following statements: 1. India has ratified the Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA) of WTO. 2. TFA is a part of WTO's Bali…
Q84 · Current Affairs: What is the importance of developing Chabahar Port by India?
Q85 · Science & Technology: In India, it is legally mandatory for which of the following to report on cyber security incidents? 1. Service providers 2. Data centres…
Q86 · Indian Polity: Right to vote and to be elected in India is a
Q87 · Science & Technology: What is the purpose of ‘evolved Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (eLISA)’ project?
Q88 · Current Affairs: What is the purpose of ‘Vidyanjali Yojana’? 1. To enable the famous foreign educational institutions to open their campuses in India. 2.…
Q89 · Current Affairs: What is the aim of the programme ‘Unnat Bharat Abhiyan’?
Q90 · Indian Polity: Consider the following statements: 1. The Election Commission of India is a five - member body. 2. The Union Ministry of Home Affairs…
Q91 · Environment & Ecology: In India, if a species of tortoise is declared protected under Schedule I of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972, what does it imply?
Q92 · Indian Polity: In India, ‘judicial review’ implies
Q93 · Modern History: With reference to Indian freedom struggle, consider the following events: 1. Mutiny in Royal Indian Navy 2. Quit India Movement launched…
Q94 · Indian Economy: Consider the following statements: 1. Tax revenue as a percent of GDP of India has steadily increased in the last decade. 2. Fiscal…
Q95 · Environment & Ecology: Recently there was a proposal to translocate some of the lions from their natural habitat in Gujarat to which one of the following sites?
Q96 · Indian Polity: Which of the following are not necessarily the consequences of the proclamation of the President’s rule in a State? 1. Dissolution of the…
Q97 · Indian Polity: Which of the following are envisaged by the Right against Exploitation in the Constitution of India? 1. Prohibition of traffic in human…
Q98 · Geography: Which of the following is geographically closest to Great Nicobar?
Q99 · Indian Polity: Out of the following statements, choose the one that brings out the principle underlying the Cabinet form of Government:
Q100 · Indian Polity: Which one of the following is not a feature of Indian federalism?

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